Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sports

TBO > Sports

Wharton Wins Key District Game, 37-19

By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 25, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - On Nov. 7, Wharton will play the game its been working for all season. The Wildcats will host rival Gaither for the Class 5A-District 5 championship.

In the meantime, the Wildcats took care of business Friday night with a convincing 37-19 district win against Mitchell to guarantee a spot in the region quarterfinals.

With Gaither's 32-22 win against Wesley Chapel, both Wharton and Gaither are 2-0 in the district and both will advance. The Wildcats want to host a playoff game this season.

"We made the playoffs, but we want that district championship," said Wharton running back Shane McEwen. "Last year, that Gaither game was a heartbreaker."

In that game, the Wildcats lost 16-14 at Gaither and were forced to travel to Chamberlain in the playoffs, where Wharton lost, 26-25.

McEwen played a huge part in Wharton's win against the Mustangs. The junior rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown and caught a 69-yard pass from Andrew Clifford for another score.

Mitchell scored on its third play of the game - an 80-yard run by Justin Hogston - but Wharton answered with a nine-play, 63-yard drive capped by a 1-yard run by Clifford. After the teams traded three-and-outs, the Mustangs took the lead on a 1-yard run by Ryan Gallagher that finished an 11-play, 75-yard drive.

But Mitchell seemed to fall apart toward the end of the first half. Jairus Jones put Wharton on top 14-13 with a 46-yard touchdown. On the next Mustangs drive, they gave up a safety when a bad snap on a punt attempt forced the Mitchell punter to fall down in the end zone. Wharton got the ball back on the Mitchell 37 when the line-drive kickoff was caught by Eric Nordlund. Five plays later, Clifford scored again from the 1 and the Wildcats led 23-13 at halftime.

Mitchell jumped right back into the game when sophomore Ricky Trinidad returned the second-half kickoff 90 yards to the Wharton 5. Two plays later, Ryan Gallagher scored his second 1-yard touchdown to make the score 23-19.

"I think that kind of woke us up," said Wharton coach David Mitchell. "We came out a little flat."

After that play, Mitchell's final four possessions ended in punt, interception, on downs and interception.

"We're still not playing a complete game. We haven't played four quarters," Mitchell said. "And I know this team has it in them."

Wharton held Trinidad to 57 yards, well below his 135 yards-per-game average. Clifford finished seven of 15 for 109 yards while Mitchell's Cody Van De Boe was only two of 10 for 19 yards and one interception. Trinidad also threw an interception on a halfback pass.